Motourage

HM Plant Honda’s Steve Plater and John McGuinness have experienced some highs and lows during this week’s practices for Saturday’s North West 200 races, with both riders securing leading positions in the practice timesheets but also with Steve Plater sustaining a broken arm leaving him unable to compete on Saturday.

Steve and teammate John entered today’s Superbike practice session in first and second positions respectively following Tuesday evening’s practice. However on the second lap of his outing, Steve crashed at the last corner, Quarry Hill [See Course Map], when he lost the front end of the bike and slid heavily into the safety fencing.

HM Plant Honda's Steve Plater suffered a broken left arm in a serious crash at Quarry Hill

Steve was immediately attended to by marshals and medics on the course and taken to Coleraine hospital where he underwent a full examination. It was quickly evident that his head, main body and legs were fine and that the main injury was to his left arm.

X-rays have confirmed that Steve has a broken left arm at the mid forearm point – with clean breaks to both the ulna and radius bones – and he will need an operation to have both bones plated. Steve’s arm has been plastered and he will remain in hospital overnight as a precautionary measure, ahead of his operation tomorrow.

Steve is fortunate to have come away from his high speed crash with relatively minor injuries and this is testament to the FIM approved safety bales which absorbed the majority of the impact, the quality of Steve’s leathers and helmet and also his quick thinking, as when he knew he was sliding towards the curb he picked his legs up to minimize any further injury.

Steve remembers the whole accident and, although in pain, was talking to paramedics and HM Plant Honda’s team manager, Harvey Beltran, before being taken to hospital by ambulance – in fact the first thing he said was to ask Harvey to call his wife, Vicky.

John McGuinness will line up on the front row of the starting grid for Saturday's North West 200

Although being incredibly disappointed to be missing Saturday’s North West 200 races, Steve would like to thank everyone for the numerous good wishes already received. And, in his true determined spirit, Steve plans to watch Saturday’s races from the pits and is already focusing on what he needs to do get back on the seat of his HM Plant Honda CBR1000 as quickly as possible in order to retain his current lead in the British Superstock Championship.

In the meantime, John McGuinness will line up on the grid for an action packed day of North West 200 racing, with two Superbike races, two Supersport races on the CBR600RR and one Superstock race.

North West 200 organizers are this year seeking to operate a Thursday daytime practice session on May 13th in a bid to further improve safety at Ireland’s top outdoor sporting event.  It is anticipated that roads will close after the morning rush hour at 9.30am and re-open at 3pm. There will be no change to the Tuesday practice session with roads closing at 5pm and re-opening by 9.30pm as per last year.

Since December, North West 200 personnel have been consulting with key organizations, residents and business people in the Coleraine area and a letter explaining the background to the concept was distributed last week to residents located round the 9 mile circuit.

The North West 200 course map

Relentless International North West 200 in association with Black Horse Race Director Mervyn Whyte MBE, explained the reasons behind the changes: “Our NW200 management team is proud of the event’s ongoing growth and development but are mindful that safety must always be our top priority. The new daytime practice on Thursday will replicate Race Day conditions such as road temperatures, setting sun and timing, so enabling riders to become very familiar with course layout. The daytime practice also addresses the problem in previous years of lack of practice time for competitors and allows us, for the first time, to run all classes separately. We believe altering the time of the traditional Thursday practice session will dramatically improve overall safety at the event.”

“Whilst star riders compete in the North West 200 year on year, the race continues to expand and attract new riders and it is vital we offer these competitors a safe and secure practice session to build up competition speeds which are timed in excess of 150 mph.  Lack of practice time has been a major concern with riders and with these new sessions we hope to facilitate them and ensure riders gain as much experience of the conditions and roads prior to Race Day.”

Organizers have called on local people who live or work along the course who anticipate that they will need to leave or gain access to their homes during Thursday practice on 13th May to contact the NW200 Race Office by 30th April by email, telephone or by post. Email info@northwest200.org, post a letter to NW200 Race Office, Sandel Village, Knocklyn Road, Coleraine, BT52 1WW or telephone 028 7035 5800.

Mervyn Whyte paid tribute to all residents and businesses close to the circuit thanking them for their patience, tolerance and good-humored support and urged everyone to support the new daytime practice session. “As always we try to minimize inconvenience as much as possible and we do appreciate the support we receive from local people. The North West 200 generates £8 million for the local economy, stimulates tourism and presents extremely positive images of the North Coast region and Northern Ireland in general to potential visitors worldwide.”

Backing  NW200 organizers’ decision to implement a daytime practice session eight times NW200 winner Steve Plater said, “Seasoned riders will be more relaxed and less likely to make mistakes whilst rookie riders will have additional time on their own to get to know the course during daylight hours. I believe it’s a very professional approach and provides a much safer competitor environment.”

Havier Beltran, HM Plant Honda team manager added, “This is great news for the Relentless International North West 200 in association with Black Horse. Moving practice to during the day will give the competitors more time on the track and it’s an important step forward for the event.”

Honda (UK) and the HM Plant Honda team have announced their continued commitment to the British Superbike Championship, Isle of Man TT and North West 200 road races for 2010.

The duo of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Josh Brookes will compete on the CBR1000RR in the British Superbike class, with the 2009 British Supersport Champion, Steve Plater, moving to the British Superstock Championship.

Plater, the 2009 Senior TT Winner, will also line up on the TT and NW200 grids alongside 15-times TT legend John McGuinness, for a second season.

Building on their long-term relationship since 2004, Honda (UK) Racing and HM Plant will be looking to continue their successful partnership and performance for the seventh consecutive year, in what is considered the strongest domestic motorcycle racing championship in the world.

Steve Martindale, General Manager of Honda (UK) Motorcycles:
“I’m pleased to confirm Honda’s commitment to the British Superbike Championship for 2010 and also the team’s continued relationship with HM Plant. The British Superbike Championship is very strong and the high standard of rider talent and racing can be seen at every round.”

John Jones, HM Plant Chairman:
“We have been delighted with our relationship with Honda and the exposure achieved from the HM Plant Honda team partnership over the last six years and look forward to that continuing with some great and exciting racing in 2010.”

Honda (UK) Racing will also continue its long-standing relationship and support of Clive Padgett’s Honda squad in 2010. Former HM Plant Honda BSB racer Glen Richards will compete in both the Superstock and Supersport classes, with John McGuinness alongside Glen in the Superstock Championship and Ian Hutchinson also in the Supersport series on the CBR600RR.

Honda (UK) Racing has a long and successful history in both British and world motorcycle racing championships, taking the World Superbike Championship title in 1997, 2000 and 2002 before wrapping up the British Superbike title in 2006 and 2007 as HM Plant Honda with Ryuichi Kiyonari. The team has also won many other events, including British Supersport titles with Karl Harris and many North West 200 and Isle of Man races, most notably with TT legend John McGuinness.

The British Superbike Championship is the most hard-fought domestic motorcycle racing championship in the world, attracting sponsors and riders from across the globe. The championship’s profile has risen over the last few seasons as television ratings and attendance at the tracks have increased.